Service Guide
June 03, 2021
Service Request Process:
Submit a service request
Nurturing Parenting Program (NPP)
through Guardian. The following
documents must be associated
with the service request: Description of Service
• Most recent completed FFA
Nurturing Parenting is provided to build nurturing parenting skills as an alternative to abusive
- Investigation (Assessment), and neglecting parenting and child-rearing practices. Nurturing Parenting is a curriculum-
FFA – Ongoing, or FFA - based, family centered and trauma-informed parenting skills, education and coaching program.
Progress Update. The NPP Practitioner completes an assessment with the family (if not already completed by the
• Completed safety plan if Family Connections Consultant) utilizing standardized assessment instruments, determines the
child assessed unsafe. parenting constructs that will be the focus of services, develops a Family Nurturing Plan with the
• Infant Care Plan (SENSE only). family, and completes parenting sessions to enhance parenting skills.
• Current court report Deciding on When to Refer to NPP Services
(if applicable). Refer families to NPP services if there is a clear need of improving nurturing parenting
• TDM summary (if applicable). skills in any of the five parenting constructs (listed below), and based on the reason for
• Current case plan
DCS involvement.
(if referring for NPP after There are three ways to determine the need of NPP services:
FFA – Ongoing completed 1. the DCSS completes the FFA-Investigation/Ongoing/Progress Update, analyzes the results
and available).
and concludes that there is a danger threat related to General Parenting Practices, and/or
• Any other supporting Behavior Management;
information.
2. the parent displays diminished caregiver protective capacities related directly to parenting;
• For service continuation,
and/or
submit the Reassessment
Summary through 3. for families with Family Connections (FC) involved, the Family Connections Consultant (FCC)
Guardian. If submitted administers the CA-Self Interview, analyzes the results, and determines there is a need to
within 30 days of the improve on the FC Core Outcome of Parenting Attitudes and Behaviors.
referral expiring, the
family can continue with
Consider the urgency of the service need and sequencing, to avoid overwhelming families and
the same agency. respect their self-determination. Do not refer families who are already participating in SENSE
NPP Values:
services, as the Home Visitor provides parenting skills and education.
Parenting Constructs
• Positive Self-Worth.
• Expectations of Children
• Empathy.
• Parental Empathy towards Children’s Needs
• Empowerment and
Strong Will. • Non-Violent Discipline
• Structure and Discipline. • Parent-Child Family Roles
• Laughter, Humor and Play.
• Children’s Power and Independence
Safety · Compassion · Change · Teaming · Advocacy · Engagement · Accountability · Family
Service Guide
NPP benefits families Implementation of Nurturing Parenting Program and Eligibility
in many ways
Implementation for NPP services will occur in three phases.
• Nurturing and non-
nurturing attitudes Phase 1: July 1, 2021 Phase 2: October 1, 2021 Phase 3: TBD
and behaviors are not Families whose DCS case will Eligibility and other specifics in Phase 2 and Phase 3 will vary
instinctual, but are learned. close following investigation by county.
• Utilizing standardized Families receiving in-home Families receiving ongoing
workbooks and lesson
case management with no case management with a
guides for each family.
impending danger and a child in out-of-home care.
• An Easy Reader Parent
safety plan is not necessary
Handbook can be utilized
for parents that have Families receiving in-home
difficulty reading or have case management with an
cognitive delays. in-home safety plan to
• Specialty Programs have manage dangers
been developed to meet
the individual needs of Families may be referred to the Nurturing Parenting Program when all of the following criteria
the family that include are met:
Families in Substance • The FFA-Investigation has been completed with sufficient information collection to make an
Abuse Treatment and
impending danger decision.
Recovery, Nurturing
Parenting for African • At least one child age birth to 18 resides in the home; or a parent in the home has parenting
American Families and time (visitation) with a child.
Nurturing Fathers Program.
• At least one parent is able and available to participate in NPP, and does not currently have
• Native American Parenting any of the following restrictions on participation.
and LGBTQ Supplemental
Lesson Guides have been
No contact order between the parent/caregiver and the child.
developed to meet the Impairment requiring stabilization or improvement before the parent could
individual needs of families. benefit from NPP (i.e. active psychosis, physical illness requiring hospitalization or
• Parents are assigned Home residential care, pervasive substance use impacting reality orientation).
Practice Assignments to Institutionalized or incarcerated.
help retain the information
from their sessions. • The DCS Specialist and family have discussed the family’s strengths and needs,
and the family has verbally agreed to meet with a NPP Practitioner to learn about the
• NPP is available to families
with children in-home program and services.
or out-of-home, without • The DCS Specialist and DCS Supervisor have concluded one or more family members has a
interruption if a child is behavioral change goal that can be achieved by improving in one or more of the Nurturing
removed or reunifies.
Parenting Program constructs, and there are no available and accessible community
• A signed Release of programs that would provide the family an equivalent service.
Information allows for
coordinated services, and
a Family Nurturing Plan
outlining the Parenting
Constructs and behavioral
goals for the family.
Safety · Compassion · Change · Teaming · Advocacy · Engagement · Accountability · Family
Service Guide
Frequency of Contact Time frames for Outreach, Engagement, Assessment & Services
• At least one time per
2 business days of referral receipt:
week for two hours, over • The NPP Practitioner makes concerted efforts to have the initial telephone contact
a maximum of 120 days with the family.
(17 weeks) for the initial
referral.
5 business days of referral receipt:
Service delivery schedule:
• The NPP Practitioner holds the intake meeting in the family’s home, unless the family
requests another location or there are safety concerns for professionals entering the home.
• Week 1 will include initial
The NPP Practitioner should obtain DCS approval for any exceptions.
outreach and intake
meeting with the family • During the intake meeting:
• Weeks 2-8 and 10-16 will the NPP Practitioner will describe NPP services and the benefit to the family;
include weekly parent explore the reason for services and DCS involvement;
sessions with the family
gather an understanding about the family’s involvement with other service providers;
• Week 9 will be conducted
as the mid-point meeting outline the roles of the NPP Practitioner;
with the family complete the assessment instruments if they were not completed by an FCC Consultant;
• Week 17 will be conducted answer the family’s questions; and
as the service closure
schedule a mid-point session and develop a schedule of home visits for the family.
meeting with the family
72 hours of the Intake Meeting:
• The NPP Practitioner will make reasonable efforts to facilitate the first parenting session.
The parenting sessions will directly relate to the parenting constructs identified.
• During the first parenting session, the NPP Practitioner will collaborate with the family to
gather information, utilize the assessment instruments and complete the Family Nurturing
Plan (FNP) that identifies the parenting constructs and competencies that will be the focus
of NPP services.
Two weeks prior to the service authorization period end date:
• The NPP Practitioner will reassess the family’s progress by completing the
Reassessment Summary.
• If the family has made sufficient change, the NPP Practitioner will complete the Service
Closure Summary connecting the family members with ongoing community resources
and expanding on the DCS Aftercare plan.
• If the family has not made sufficient behavioral change, family members are attending
appointments and actively participating in NPP services, and either the family has
not completed the lessons by the end of the service authorization period or the NPP
assessment indicates the family would benefit from additional lessons, services can be
continued in 90 day increments. DCS must approve continued service.
Weekly Nurturing Parenting Program sessions will include the following:
• One hour of parenting support that includes education (coaching) and nurturing activity
preparation, with approximately thirty minutes for each, held with the parent only.
The parenting support session should occur prior to the nurturing activity observation,
preferably immediately before the parent-child nurturing activity or on the same day.
• Thirty minutes of parent-child observation, to include a nurturing activity where the
parent can apply the learning from the parenting support and/or education.
• Thirty minutes of parent-only debriefing session to occur immediately following
the nurturing activity whenever possible, and within no more than four hours of the
nurturing activity.
Safety · Compassion · Change · Teaming · Advocacy · Engagement · Accountability · Family
